AUS vs PAK: Mohammad Rizwan replaces Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan name 12-member squad for Boxing Day Test

Pakistan will look to bounce back strongly after the 360-run drubbing against Australia in the first of the three-match Test series. The second Test begins on Tuesday, December 26, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.

The Shan Masood-led side have announced a 12-member squad, from which they will pick their final XI on the first day of the match. Notably, Sarfaraz Ahmed, who scored just 3 and 4 in the two innings of the first Test, has been replaced by fellow wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.

"Pakistan announce 12-man squad for second Test 🏏 The final XI will be named tomorrow," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said while naming the squad through a social media post.

The Pakistan camp has been hit with multiple injury concerns. Pacer Khurram Shahzad and spinner Noman Ali have been ruled out of the series. The former suffered a rib cage fracture, while the latter underwent an emergency appendicitis operation. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who had been ruled out of the first Test due to a side injury, will also miss the second game.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who was rushed to Australia ahead of the Perth Test as Abrar's backup, has been named in the 12-member squad and he could be picked as the only frontline spinner in the XI. Also, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been left out of the side.

Hasan Ali seems to be the favourite to replace Shahzad as the third seamer in the XI. He played his last Test match earlier this year against New Zealand.

Pakistan will have to win the second Test to keep their hopes of winning a maiden Test series in Australia. They have not won a Test match on Australian soil since 1995.

Pakistan XII-member squad for Melbourne Test: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi (VC), Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan